EXPERIENCED Kilkenny attacker Colin Fennelly has admitted Ger Loughnane's controversial comments about the All-Ireland champions will provide extra incentive to perform for the rest of the season.
Loughnane, the popular pundit and two-time All-Ireland winning Clare manager, claimed in an interview that three in-a-row chasing Kilkenny are "functional beyond belief". He said the Cats are "totally dependent on TJ Reid" and, to a lesser extent, Richie Hogan and stated that "a team with that talent should not be winning an All-Ireland. I have no problem in saying that".
Loughnane added that, aside from Reid and Hogan, Kilkenny continue to be propelled to success by Brian Cody, their long serving 11-time All-Ireland winning manager whom the Banner county icon described as an "extraordinary person".
The generally disparaging comments haven't gone down well in Kilkenny and, as if to make a point, they scored 6-20 in the absence of Reid and Hogan last weekend in their Allianz National League quarter-final win over Offaly.
That huge win secured a semi-final date with Loughnane's native Clare on Sunday week and his comments will undoubtedly be revisited in the Kilkenny dressing-room beforehand and throughout the Championship.
"It is, is [great motivation], that's true," said Fennelly.
"When I heard it, I was thinking, 'that's absolutely crazy'. Even on Sunday, we didn't have Richie or TJ playing and it makes no difference whatsoever. Kevin Kelly came in, took every free and slotted every one over the bar which, probably, TJ didn't do in any of the other games. On a wet day, that was very hard, that was his first game in a while and he put every ball over the bar so things do not change."
Fennelly said that he was "disappointed" generally with the comments made by Loughnane: "I thought it was weird what he said, probably more disappointed with what he said," continued the Ballyhale Shamrocks man.
"What was it he said, that we shouldn't have won the last two All-Irelands? That's weird because, in 2014, there's four competitions there to be won and we won all four of them. It's very unusual for a team to do that.
"You have to win so many games to win all four trophies. Like, it's not pure luck that you win all those competitions or all those games. I don't know, is Ger out of the game so long that he doesn't realise all the hard work that you put into winning?
"Also, last year you had a Kilkenny club team, Ballyhale Shamrocks, winning an All-Ireland and the county obviously winning their All-Ireland. That's unusual again and just shows the strength in depth in the county to do what we've done and do it both years."
